ORCID IDs

Date of this Version

1991

Citation

HORTSCIENCE 26(7):924. 1991.

Comments

Copyright 1991 American Society for Horticultural Science. Used by permission.

Abstract

Birds feeding on horticultural crops may cause extensive losses, but control techniques currently available are not always practical or otherwise appropriate. Control of certain birds is attempted by placing widely spaced lines or wires over or around sites needing protection (Pochop et al., 1990). Recently, Knight (1988) reported observations that monofilament lines could be used to protect various horticultural crops, including grapes, from bird damage. However, more closely controlled research was needed to better quantify effectiveness of this technique for various bird species. The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of monofilament lines in protecting ripening grapes (Vitis) from bird damage and to observe how damage-causing bird species behave in relation to the lines.

We selected the vineyard at the Univ. of Nebraska horticultural garden because of its availability and its history of bird damage ranging from 30% to 100% of the crop (D.H.S., unpublished). The study was conducted from 17 July through 25 Sept. 1988, and included seven grape cultivars, each with four or more plants (Table 1). Plants of the various cultivars were distributed haphazardly throughout the vineyard. Each grape bunch on all plants was tagged and visually examined before ripening occurred. Plants were individually and randomly assigned to control (no lines) or experimental groups. Each experimental plant received, separately, clear 5.4-kg test monofilament lines spaced 30 cm apart, attached horizontally and parallel between two rigid 100-cm-diameter wire hoops. The wire hoops were supported by the poles of the grape trellis. Grapes were considered to be damaged if they were either pecked or missing (Boudreau, 1972). The percentage of grapes damaged in each grape bunch was estimated every 4 to 5 days throughout the susceptible ripening period (Hothem et al., 1981) and individual bunch ratings were averaged for each plant. Cultivars were analyzed separately for treatment effects because the cultivars were known to differ with regard to fruit ripening time.

Bird damage reached 100% in all grape cultivars regardless of presence of lines, and damage within cultivars occurred at similar rates with or without lines. The mean number of days for damage to reach 100% in all plants within cultivars ranged from 12 ± 2.1 (‘Leon Millet’) to 54 ± 7.5 (‘Bath’). Comparisons between control and experimental plants for each cultivar, using an independent two-sample t test, showed no difference in the mean number of days to 50% damage (Table 1). European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), American robins (Turdus migratorious), northern orioles (Icterus galbula), and three other incidental species were observed going through the lines into plants. For example, European starlings were observed passing through the lines 32 times, 24 by flying and eight by hopping from the hoop or support pole. Most of the bird species entering through lines were flying or, to a lesser extent, hopping from a perch or the ground. Regardless of lines, damage occurred more slowly in some cultivars than others and was slowest in ‘Bath’ and ‘McCampbell’ grapes. ‘Leon Millet’ apparently was the most vulnerable to bird damage, a result possibly related to the cultivar (small, dark, sweet grapes) and the feeding habits of the bird species present, which typically damage grapes by plucking (Boudreau, 1972).

Our results differ from Knight’s (1988) observations that lines would protect grapes from bird damage. However, house sparrows (Passer domestics), the species most noted by Knight (personal communication), were not present in this study. Subsequent studies at baited sites, which included various combinations of line size, color, orientation, and spacing, have confirmed that monofilament lines effectively repel house sparrows from certain feeding sites but do not repel European starlings (Agüero, 1990). Why lines repel only certain birds is not fully understood (Pochop et al., 1990). In this study, American robins, European starlings, and northern orioles appeared to be undeterred by lines around grape plants, and grape damage was total. Further studies are needed to better understand bird response to lines and potential management implications.